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In the last 2014 New York Autism Rates, there was an increase in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children, particularly boys. It alarmed the Centers for Disease Control because even though there are tons of provided resources, a lot of people’s questions remained unanswered. With this, the New York health department set their standards to a much higher level to be able to support the community’s kids’ individual needs.

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The New York Autism State Council evaluates the outcomes of the autism’s symptoms and diagnosis. It aims to assist the needs of the children by promoting proper consultation and interventions so it can access a comprehensive coverage. The council also focuses on setting up available programs that sustain continued recommendations for children’s specific needs. These include plans for development and educational purposes, home and health services, early diagnosis, and vocational appointment. Also, there is an improved healthcare regulation that the board like to acknowledge. It includes the enactment of autism insurance reform that provides screening, diagnosis, and treatment for autistic people.

Since autism rates continue to grow, there are several pieces of legislation that help widen the coverage for the said condition. Aside from the insurance reform, the presentation of a well-established advisory panel gets emphasized. It aims to allow children to have a compilation of necessary treatments they require for the whole year. The autism insurance mandate help removes the limit of monetary coverage for specific procedures such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

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Though New York doesn’t keep the record of having a large number of kids with autism, the rise of the condition is still alarming. The disregarded factor that affects the disease is perhaps to blame. However, the issue is not about its rise any more but instead of finding a way to reduce the numbers of kids who suffer from not having medical treatment.

It will never be fair to say that autism parents are pathetic because they pretty much have to look after their kid with special needs for as long as they shall live. For one, it was not a duty forced on them. They happen to love their child so much that they prefer to take care of him or her instead of doing anything else.

Nonetheless, while moms and dads of autistic youngsters rarely or never breathe a word about the exhaustion that they may undoubtedly experience when acting as both a caregiver and financial provider, the matter can take a toll on their mental state. There may be times when these parents sit in their car and bawl on the steering wheel. In other occasions, there are possibly mornings when they don’t want to leave the bed but can’t do it because their son or daughter needs them.

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Once you notice yourself feeling like that increasingly, you cannot keep on lying to everyone that you are okay. It is apparent that you are far from it and that you need help. After all, more than you or anyone else, your kid will suffer because of it since their mom or dad is not in the right mentality to look after them.

Here are some tips on how to care for your mental health even when you have an autistic child.

1. Avoid Stressors

One thing you should never have to do is deal with stressors. No matter if they are staring you in the eyes or egging you on to blow up, count up to ten and move away. Stress can eat a lot of your time, which you can utilize to bond with your family. Thus, you cannot entertain it ever.

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2. Pick Up A Hobby

The truth is that kids, even the ones with special needs – don’t need you to be there for them 24/7. When you are not working, and they are either sleeping or at school, you can take lessons for baking, pottery, and any other hobby that you’ve always wanted to try. This way, you have an outlet for your emotions.

3. Meet Your Friends

As mentioned earlier, you undeniably have a strong support system consisting of your parents, siblings, and in-laws. You may call one of them to babysit your child for a couple of hours so that you and your spouse can unwind with friends for a while.

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4. Teach Something New

Feeling a sense of accomplishment on a regular basis can honestly keep depression at bay. You can experience that by teaching simple things to your kid daily and seeing how he or she remembers it. Say, show the youngster how to set spoon and fork on the table. Then, allow him or her to do it without looking at you. While it may take a few tries, it will be worth it for both of you.

Final Thoughts

Your child’s doctor may prescribe calming drugs, but their effectivity remains questionable even for others in the medical society. Therapy may do the kid some good when it comes to giving him or her useful lessons to cope with the issue, yet it cannot deal with the condition 100%. Regardless of that, the autism spectrum disorder is one of the illnesses that you can choose to live with rather than fight. Otherwise, your mental health may suffer as you keep on wracking your brain on what you can do to cure your autistic child.

Children by definition are less inhibited than adults. Being unable to regulate their emotions and behaviors, kids are usually very energetic and not afraid to show their feelings, as anyone that has seen a temper tantrum should know.

However, there is a thin line between normal behavior and disorders. Some children are so hyperactive and distracted that it becomes difficult to engage in daily activities. When this happens, your child may already have a developmental disorder.

Developmental disorders, if left untreated, can hamper the healthy development of mental and social skills, so it is essential to recognize them quickly and to administer treatment. The two most common developmental disorders are attention-deficit/hyperactivity syndrome, known as ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder, which is simply called autism.

These two disorders can share many common symptoms, such as restlessness, hyperactivity, loss of emotional control, and difficulty with social interactions. In fact, these two classes of disorders can come together, as half of those with autism also have ADHD. However, it is necessary to understand both disorders, with an emphasis on knowing how the two differ so that mental health professionals can give the appropriate treatment.

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Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorders are called as such due to the wide range of symptoms that people with autism can exhibit. However, the two hallmarks of autism spectrum disorders are repetitive behaviors and problems with communication.

Children with autism may display a fixation with a specific concept, item or activity, to the point where they may violently react when they are denied access to this fixation. They may also make excessive movements, from flapping hands to frequent bouts of fidgeting.

People with autism can have trouble expressing their thoughts and feelings properly to others. They may also be unable to read social cues, complicating communication correctly. Due to these traits, autism can make it hard for people to make friends, further delaying their social development.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Unlike autism, ADHD focuses more on hyperactivity and the inability to maintain attention. People with ADHD may be very impatient and disruptive, as they may interrupt people during conversations and other activities.

They may also be very impulsive, sometimes taking unnecessary risks without any foresight. The lack of attention makes it difficult for people with ADHD to concentrate on a single task or to carry out complicated directions. Finally, ADHD interferes with organization skills and prioritization, making it hard for people to execute projects or other complex activities.

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Similarities And Differences

Both ADHD and autism share many symptoms. For example, both involve problems with social relationships, and people who suffer from these two types of disorders usually find it hard to make and keep friends. Both types of people also tend to suffer academically, as the usual school curriculum requires both attention and communication skills. They can both seem distracted, unmotivated, and unstable, especially in the eyes of other people less familiar with these conditions.

However, the two conditions also have differences. The main effects of ADHD manifest as lack of focus and attention, while those of autism manifest as repetition and communication problems.

When it comes to paying attention, people with ADHD may have problems with focusing on anything in general. In contrast, people with autism may be able to show intense concentration on their fixations while ignoring anything else.

Due to the social isolation and poor performance caused by these two disorders, people with these conditions may become frustrated with themselves and with other people. This frustration imposes even greater stress, adding to the preexisting stress caused by the usual challenges encountered as a child grows up.

Without appropriate treatment, people who have ADHD or autism are vulnerable to developing more serious mental health disorders. Hence, it is essential to distinguish the two conditions to facilitate treatment accurately.

Think about this. Your child at the age of two or three begins to show signs that everything is not okay. You get worried and take your child to the doctor, explain his or her behavior and then to hear that your child is autistic. How would that make you feel as a parent? Your child is still the same child you held in your arms after giving birth, just with a few newfound difficulties that you may encounter along the way. Look at this way anyone worth having never comes easy.

What is autism spectrum disorder?

One of the most common disabilities found in children is autism spectrum disorder or ASD. According to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which limits the capacity of people to participate in social communication or interaction. These are some of the characteristics that you can notice from individuals who are suffering from this illness:

Dealing with a child who has autism can be extra challenging. As a mom, there are so many things that you need to take into consideration. If your son or daughter has autism spectrum disorder, then there is a high likelihood that he or she will have difficulty in sleeping at night.

You’ve recently learned that your child has or might have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or autism. And you might have been told that it is an incurable and lifelong condition. At this point, you are probably wondering, worrying, and frightened what to do next, who are the right people to talk to, and of course – how you and your child can deal with this circumstance. However, the good thing is YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Many parents like you have had to deal with this situation in their lives.

Dealing with a child with autism is no easy task. There are many different characteristics an individual child may have and as such needs the proper care for their specific needs. One sure way of helping an autistic child is by having your child go through therapy. As there is no medication that is said to cure autism, therapy helps the child cope with the outside world and help them live as normal of a life as possible.

“For autistic individuals to succeed in this world, they need to find their strengths and the people that will help them get to their hopes and dreams. In order to do so, the ability to make and keep friends is a must. Amongst those friends, there must be mentors to show them the way. A supportive environment where they can learn from their mistakes is what we as a society need to create for them,” Bill Wong, Autistic Occupational Therapist

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World Health Organization (WHO) and ASD’s

Reports issued by the WHO estimated that globally, one in every 160 people has an ASD. Worldwide, people with Autism Spectrum Disorders still represent an exposed group of which, a percentage remains exposed to discrimination, stigma, and other human rights offenses such equal rights to the public. Proper evaluation, early detection, and diagnosis, together with a suitable treatment plan can reduce the obstacles, difficulties, and challenges presented by ASD’s and can have a positive impact on the overall well-being and quality of life for those with ASD and their caregivers.